Actively-supported multi-degree of freedom steerable mirror apparatus and method

Abstract

A steerable mirror assembly, the assembly comprising a mounting plate and a mirror with a mounting surface and a reflective surface. The assembly further comprising at least one flexible connector coupled between the mounting plate and a peripheral portion of the mirror. The flexible connector is adapted to allow the mirror to move within a predetermined range along an axis perpendicular to the surface of the mirror and adapted to allow tilting of the mirror. The assembly also comprising at least one moveable support member coupled between the mounting plate and the mounting surface of the mirror. The moveable support member provides mechanical support to the mirror and is adapted to move the mirror within a predetermined range along an axis perpendicular to the surface of the mirror and adapted to allow tilting of the mirror. The assembly additionally comprising at least one position sensor.

1. A steerable mirror assembly comprising:
 a mounting plate; 
 a mirror with a mounting surface and a reflective surface; 
 three C-shaped or U-shaped flexible connectors coupled between the mounting plate and peripheral portions of the mirror, said flexible connectors flexibly constraining the mirror; 
 three support members coupled between the mounting plate and the mounting surface, wherein said support members provide mechanical support to the mirror and simultaneously move the mirror in one translational degree of freedom along an axis perpendicular to the reflective surface of the mirror and in two rotational degrees of freedom to allow tilting around axes parallel to a plane of the reflective surface; and 
 at least one position sensor. 
 
   
   
     2. The steerable mirror assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a mirror support structure, wherein the mirror is mounted on the mirror support structure. 
   
   
     3. The steerable mirror assembly of  claim 1  further comprising at least one reaction mass mounted below a second surface of the mounting plate. 
   
   
     4. The steerable mirror assembly of  claim 3  wherein the at least one reaction mass comprises:
 at least one flexure, and 
 at least one position sensor. 
 
   
   
     5. The steerable mirror assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said flexible connectors are comprised of metal or plastic. 
   
   
     6. The steerable mirror assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said flexible connectors are comprised of composite multi-layer metal structures. 
   
   
     7. The steerable mirror assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said mirror forms a central aperture. 
   
   
     8. The steerable mirror assembly of  claim 1  wherein said flexible connectors provide control over three degrees of freedom. 
   
   
     9. The steerable mirror assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting plate is comprised of aluminum, steel, silicon carbide, beryllium, a graphite-epoxy composite, or a metal matrix composite. 
   
   
     10. The steerable mirror assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said flexible connectors is 2 centimeters tall. 
   
   
     11. The steerable mirror assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said flexible connectors are comprised of steel, titanium copper, beryllium-copper, or ELGILOY® alloy. 
   
   
     12. The steerable mirror assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the reflective surface is annular shaped. 
   
   
     13. The steerable mirror assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said support members are actuators. 
   
   
     14. The steerable mirror assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said support members are voice coil actuators. 
   
   
     15. The steerable mirror assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said support members are Lorenz force actuators. 
   
   
     16. The steerable mirror assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said flexible connectors are spaced at an angular spacing of 120° from each other.